4 ms·

Can Bethesda issue a revocable license to DoomRL for the use of "Doom" and still have their trademark protected? Since it doesn't seem like Bethesda cares wheth

Can Bethesda issue a revocable license to DoomRL for the use of "Doom" and still have their trademark protected? Since it doesn't seem like Bethesda cares whether or not DoomRL exists, and since it would provide good will and good PR towards Doom, this seems like a better move than sending a C&D, which just causes hostility.

kbenson 10y ago
Sure, but then you're on the hook for what they officially do with the name, since you've sanctioned them. Then you come to the cost of doing this while protecting yourself. Getting lawyers to draft up something appropriately restrictive is probably expensive, and still unlikely to cover all the problems you might run into, and getting the project to sign it might be hard since it's in their best interest to have a lawyer review it to make sure it doesn't give away IP, and that costs money...
- deleted 10y ago
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- cmdrfred 10y ago
  >Sure, but then you're on the hook for what they officially do with the name, since you've sanctioned them. What does the mean in real terms? If the software had a issue that causes computers to burn peoples houses down would Bethesda be at fault somehow?
  - kbenson 10y ago
    The author endorses racist/sexist views, comes out for child labor, and incorporates those themes into their work, or somehow publicizes that fact in relation to your property. The details don't matter to 99% of the people out there, if an official Doom product endorsed racism, Bethesda would definitely be dealing with the fallout.
    - cmdrfred 10y ago
      Seems a bit far fetched for me.
      - kbenson 10y ago
        I'm not sure how likely it is factors all that much. When you have a hundred million to billion dollar business, why risk allowing anything even remotely like that which might harm your brand? It's much easier to just say no.
      - sperglord 10y ago
        ReiserFS took a pretty bad publicity hit.

kbenson 10y ago

Sure, but then you're on the hook for what they officially do with the name, since you've sanctioned them. Then you come to the cost of doing this while protecting yourself. Getting lawyers to draft up something appropriately restrictive is probably expensive, and still unlikely to cover all the problems you might run into, and getting the project to sign it might be hard since it's in their best interest to have a lawyer review it to make sure it doesn't give away IP, and that costs money...

deleted 10y ago
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cmdrfred 10y ago
>Sure, but then you're on the hook for what they officially do with the name, since you've sanctioned them. What does the mean in real terms? If the software had a issue that causes computers to burn peoples houses down would Bethesda be at fault somehow?
- kbenson 10y ago
  The author endorses racist/sexist views, comes out for child labor, and incorporates those themes into their work, or somehow publicizes that fact in relation to your property. The details don't matter to 99% of the people out there, if an official Doom product endorsed racism, Bethesda would definitely be dealing with the fallout.
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    Seems a bit far fetched for me.
    - kbenson 10y ago
      I'm not sure how likely it is factors all that much. When you have a hundred million to billion dollar business, why risk allowing anything even remotely like that which might harm your brand? It's much easier to just say no.
    - sperglord 10y ago
      ReiserFS took a pretty bad publicity hit.